Teacher accused of sending explicit pictures

HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY) – Police have charged a former Hampton teacher after officers said she had inappropriate communication with a juvenile male.

Cpl. Mary Shackelford with the Hampton Police Division said Kimberlee A. Dietz, 31, of Hampton was arrested Monday and charged with felony use of a communications device to facilitate certain offenses involving a juvenile.

Dietz was granted a $15,000 bond with surety Wednesday morning and was later released on that bond. She cannot have contact with anyone under the age of 18 unless related by blood or marriage.

Officers responded to a home for a report of a suspicious activity complaint March 2. According to police, the investigation found Dietz had inappropriate communication with a male juvenile attending a Hampton school in March.

“What was beneficial for us and that we put out as well is that in this particular case the juvenile reached out to the parent and the parent then brought it to our attention, and so that open line of communication worked out really well and we were able to make that arrest,” Shackelford said.

According to a criminal complaint obtained by WAVY.com, Dietz sent sexually explicit pictures from her cell phone to an 11-year-old boy’s cell phone. The pictures, the complaint said, came after a conversation between Dietz and the boy where she expressed her interest in him.

Police said she was a former school employee. According to an article on Hampton City Schools’ website, she was a teacher at Asbury Elementary School. Hampton City Schools would not comment on the case, but confirmed Dietz is a former teacher. Police have not said where the student attended school.

Dietz’s neighbor, Christine Townes, said she does not know her well, but was surprised by the allegations.

“It’s sort of scary and sad, I would think because kids, especially younger ages don’t really know the ramifications of anything. They look at the teachers as someone they’re supposed to look up to, sort of like another authority,” Towne said. “When you raise your kids, you teach them that they’re supposed to go to adults and to trust them.”

No one answered the door at Dietz’s home Tuesday. She declined to talk to 10 On Your Side from the Hampton Roads Regional Jail, where she is being held.